When Did I Become Old & Jadded?

First of all - the CBS exposure has netted exactly zero retail sales. But, more importantly, I've been able to use the fact that we were on to build our reputation amongst our retailers. Both the small ones and the bigger one - and the BIG one we're going after. While a little extra revenue at the end of the year would have been nice the real goal was how I would be able to leverage the exposure so it's working on that end.

On an total aside - I had a rather interesting experience in my workspace on Monday (sorry, it's actually been a crazy week). As I've mentioned before, it's a joint workspace with a number of small businesses working in there. However, non of them could be considered direct competitors to me though some of them are direct competitors to one another. Until Monday when a new company came into the space to look at it and they are a direct competitor to me. We're differentiated so not 100% directly competitive - but close enough to make my skin itch. That being said, the owner I met was very very nice and I think we'd get along as individuals. However, I made some comment about a tightening economy and he looked at me and said - in all seriousness and, honestly, with the slightest tinge of glee in his voice - "It's a good thing we're in a growth industry." I was so caught off guard by his optimism and joy at his foundling business that I was stunned into silence for a minute. The look that crossed my face must have been one of utter confusion because he follwed up with "Right?" in the same hopeful tone. And while on the surface we are in a growth industry, I was stunned that he didn't seem to have any understanding of how hard it is to grow in this business. And then toss in the fact that the entire small retail market - the distribution for most of our business - is just going to get hammered in the next year with this economy. On the one had his excitment was refreshing but on the other it seemed...dare I say it...terribly nieve.

But then again, I was just that person three years ago. I was convinced that all I had to do was make the product and it would literally sell itself. I can now laugh at my former self. Laugh very very hard. But when did I become so thoroughally jadded? Then again, I just sent off samples of a new product to BIG company in what is being called the worst economy since the Great Depression. So I have to believe that there's still enough of the optimistic nieve fool in me.

Speaking of watching newbie entrepreneurs lose their optimism and become jadded - check out this article in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/business/smallbusiness/11hunt.html?ref=smallbusiness